News

Queen’s birthday honours 2019: Who got what in FE and skills?

Eight leading figures from the further education sector have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours. These include five…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted watch: Airports apprenticeship provider slammed by Ofsted – again

A new apprenticeship provider that was suspended from recruiting learners last year has been rated ‘inadequate’ in its first…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Is the Prime Minister planning farewell budget hike for FE?

Theresa May is pushing to announce a huge programme of investment to overhaul schools and colleges in England before…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Struggling national college seeks partners in order to survive

A national college is seeking partner organisations after struggling to recruit learners and scraping through 2017-18 with a government…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Four-letter verdict on colossal European Social Fund blunder

In what one ESFA official is alleged to have called a “f*ck up of epic proportions”, all 80 training…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

College accused of ‘everyday racism’ after sacking lecturer

The new Universities and College Union general secretary has accused the leadership at Sandwell College of “everyday racism” after…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino


News

Over 1,300 apprentices left without any provider, 7 months after 3aaa collapse

Nearly one-third of the apprentices who were training with disgraced apprenticeship firm Aspire Achieve Advance had still not been…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Growth Company denies conflict of interest in European Social Fund tender

A provider with directors on the board of a local enterprise partnership has refuted conflict of interest allegations after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

OfS to inspect quality of unregulated apprentices despite Augar recommendation

The government has already rejected one recommendation put forward by the Augar Review – by giving the Office for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE Week wins loan law battle

Victims of a long-running FE loans scandal are set to benefit from new legislation that gives the education secretary…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Troubled Easton and Otley College to be demerged and taken over

A troubled land-based college is to be broken up and merged with two other colleges, following two consecutive ‘inadequate’…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Revealed: The 17 colleges to share £2.5m in final strategic improvement funding round

The names of final colleges set to share grants through a government fund designed to support struggling colleges have…

Simon Kay
Simon Kay

Must read

Apprenticeships, Politics

Phillipson to exempt young people from level 7 apprenticeships funding axe

Education secretary makes ‘important concession’ amid backlash from other government departments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, FE Commissioner

Weston chair felt powerless over £2.5m payments to former principal

Ex-Weston college chair gives tell-all interview following FE Commissioner probe

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Weston College governance failure allowed ‘concealment’ of £2.5m payments to former principal

Paul Phillips was paid £1.8m in 2023, including a ‘significant’ six-figure retention payment which his COO son ‘resisted’ paying…

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
T Levels

NAO reveals enormity of T Level take-up failure

Forecasts missed by 75% and secret DfE estimates show staff and employer shortages could limit places to 48,000 students

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read